Student Stories
IS student Misha Sidhu fulfills dream of studying abroad in France
Written by Misha Sidhu
Completing an exchange semester at Sciences Po in Menton, France, was one of the best experiences of my life. As a student majoring in International Studies, acquiring an international education has always been a dream of mine. Thanks to the Simons Foundation International Travel Grant, I was able to achieve this longtime goal of mine without a financial burden, for which I am immensely grateful. This opportunity allowed me to expose myself to a new education system, travel extensively, participate in extracurricular events, and connect with people from all over the world.
One of the most exciting aspects of studying at Sciences Po’s Menton campus was the diverse student body. Since courses at this campus are primarily taught in English, there was a significant number of international students. Although the campus is small, with only around three hundred fifty students, there was a very strong sense of school community in the small seaside town of Menton. Sciences Po Menton is nicknamed “campus de la paix” — the campus of peace — to represent how students from different backgrounds can live and learn together, regardless of where they come from. This year, sixty-five nationalities were represented among the student body.
The learning environment at Sciences Po Menton was much different from SFU, given that it is a specialized school for political science and its subfields. Sciences Po has various campuses throughout France, each with its own regional focus. As Menton is located in the South of France, the regional focus was the Mediterranean and Middle East. Being surrounded by peers with common interests motivated me to be a better student. I took advantage of the numerous language courses offered, and chose to study Spanish and Italian, all while practicing my French— which I am already proficient in — around town on a daily basis. There were also many extracurricular activities that contributed to both the educational and social aspects of being a student in Menton. Some highlights include spectating an invitational tennis tournament at the Monte Carlo Country Club where I watched some of the most prestigious universities in Europe compete, participating in the Integration Week organized by the Bureau des Étudiants, and attending the opening ceremony of the school year where Tunisian-French lawyer and activist Gisèle Halimi was posthumously honoured.
During my semester abroad, I was able to travel a lot. Travelling has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I was fortunate enough to visit fifteen countries—most of which I visited alone—within the span of four months. Some of my most memorable moments include visiting the Ravensbrück Women’s Concentration Camp in Germany, taking a sunset boat cruise in Portugal, and attending the concert of one of my favourite singers in Poland. Solo travelling was an incredible experience. Not only did I learn about the destinations I visited, but I also learned so much about myself.
Living in the South of France might seem glamorous, but my time in Menton has opened my eyes to how the migration crisis has touched this region. Just a few kilometers across the border in Ventimiglia, Italy, many migrants and asylum seekers who have crossed the Mediterranean to enter France from Italy must now navigate complex legal pathways in order to immigrate. Many have also lost their lives at the Franco-Italian border in treacherous journeys across the sea or land, which are often controlled by illicit trafficking groups. In Menton, I attended a screening of the documentary ‘The Borders of Paradise,’ which was made by former students. Shortly after watching this enlightening documentary, I happened to visit Ventimiglia where I personally saw the poor conditions that migrants live in. As a student majoring in International Studies, migration and humanitarian crises are frequently discussed in the classroom, so witnessing the situation in Ventimiglia firsthand and living amid the geopolitics of Menton have left a profound effect on me.
My exchange semester is an experience that I will never forget. Getting to live, study, and socialize in such a diverse environment reaffirmed my passion for International Studies. This opportunity further motivated me to pursue a career that will allow me to travel or live abroad. I have grown so much as a person, and I have become more confident, self-sufficient, patient, open-minded, and flexible. Even though my time in Menton was not without its challenges, I will continue to cherish the memories and friendships from my semester abroad, and will particularly miss my lovely roommates. I am so grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I look forward to returning to Menton one day.